A typical week
During your foundation year you will be expected to attend around five hours of classes per week, participate in regular meetings with tutors to discuss work, carry out independent research and you are likely to write at least one essay every two weeks.
Your time will be spent both on academic work for your Humanities programme and work related to the Preparation for Undergraduate Studies course.
In each term there will be modules which will lead to your degree pathway. In your final term you will complete an extended essay on a subject related topic of your choice, deepening your subject interest and building your skills in independent study.
You may also have the opportunity to learn a language or enhance your maths skills during the foundation year.
Tutorials are usually for around two students and a tutor. Classes are slightly bigger, and class sizes may vary depending on the modules that you choose. There are likely to be around four students in a class, however when the whole Humanities cohort is together, this may include up to 18 students. Lectures are a larger format again, and are likely to be delivered to the foundation year cohort (up to 50 students) as a whole.
Most tutorials, classes, and lectures are delivered by staff who are tutors in their subject. Some teaching may also be delivered by postgraduate students.
To find out more about how Oxford's teaching year is structured, visit our Academic Year page.
